Numbering the Soldiers

Numbers 1:1–54
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In Numbers we find what is perhaps the hardest lesson a Christian has to learn: to trust God instead of our own reason. This is where we often struggle. We think that what we want to do and the way we want to do it is the right way. The hardest struggle we have is to learn to believe that God knows what He is talking about and that what He tells us is the truth, and is for our good.

This book falls into four divisions:

1. A picture of God’s provision for guidance and warfare. (Chapters 1-10)
2. A remarkable record of protection in spite of failure. (Chapters 22-26)
3. A reorganization of Israel that ends with the new generation. (Chapters 27-36)

This chapter records the numbering of the people:

1. God told Moses to “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and above; all who are able to go to war in Israel” (vv. 2-3).
2. He tells us that this great task was to be accomplished by Moses and Aaron and “a man from every tribe.” (v. 4).
3. “Then Moses and Aaron took these men, and they took census of their ancestry from twenty years old and above, each one individually.” (vv. 17-18)
4. The results of the people being numbered “from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war in Israel” (vv. 20-46).

Application

I need to be asking the Lord to help me give up the frustration of an imitation life and continue to enjoy the fullness of life lived in the power of God.